InTheKnow 4th Qtr 2015

In the
Know
4th Quarter 2015
Stafford County, VA
October - December
Board Advisory Committee
Meetings
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Event
Date/Location/Times
Haunted Trail
The Board Advisory Committee (BAC) meets the first Tuesday
of the month in the Activities Room of the Leeland Station
Clubhouse. Meetings start promptly at 7:00 PM, that’s 1900hrs
for all of our military personnel.
October 24 @ Neabsco Trail/8-10pm
Breakfast with Santa
New Year’s Eve Ball
Dec. 19 @ Clubhouse/TBD
Dec 31 @ Clubhouse/5:30 to
Drop
6:30 PM
Please, make it a point to attend, there’s plenty of information
shared and we’d LOVE to have your input.
FAQs
2015 Meeting Schedule
A list of Frequently Asked Questions is available on the
November 3
leelandstation.org website. On it you will find answers to
December 1
November 17 - ANNUAL MEETING (Conway ES)
common questions and many community requests and
Update Central
If you have a question and can’t find it on the FAQ, click the
services.
“Contact Us” button at the top of the page and send us your
2015 – An updated video monitoring system and alarm system question. Who knows, your question may actually end up on
was installed at the pool and in the Leeland Station Clubhouse.
the FAQ list!
Many of the approved budget items have been either
scheduled for completion or are in progress. Those items
include tennis and basketball court repairs and trail
maintenance, approved at the August BAC meeting. The
Sunday
CLOSED
playground opened in Leeland East on September 14th.
Monday
10am – 2pm
Tuesday
4pm – 7pm
Wednesday
CLOSED
Thursday
3pm – 7pm
Friday
3pm – 5pm
Saturday
10am – 2pm*
Clubhouse Hours
*Closed every other Saturday Beginning July 4.
Closed Sundays and all Federal Holidays.
Check our Community Calendar for hours.
Photo courtesy Sue Ann Oltman.
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Maintenance Reminders
The Association continues to remind homeowners to be
certain property maintenance and appearance remains
current.
Our property management firm, FirstService
Residential, continuously tours the community looking for
deficiencies and property owners will receive notices if
Making a difference every day, for every resident.
observed. If left in disrepair, fines may be assessed.
FirstService Residential is the community management service
for Leeland Station. FirstService Residential’s website allows We know this may seem a petty request, but the LSCA is
you to login and pay dues and use the features, services, and responsible by law to ensure our covenants are followed. By
doing this, it ultimately benefits us all by helping maintain
conveniences to ease your experience.
As always, they pledge to be here for you if you have any property values and aesthetically pleasing neighborhood. No
one wants to buy a house or live next to an unsightly or
questions about your property management agent. Feel free
to visit them at FirstService Residential, email Leeland Station’s
property manager, Katrinea Erb, or call their 24/7 Customer
Care Center at (703) 385-1133, (540) 891-8677 or (240) 8132457.
unkempt home.
Such things as faded or missing shutters or siding; rotted
wood; chipped paint; visible accumulations of stored property
or refuse; decaying mailboxes, and mold or mildew on homes
FirstService Residential is committed to keeping their promise is unsightly and can create costly maintenance issues to
of making a difference everyday for Leeland Station.October 6, homeowners later if left unchecked. We ask that every
Hey You! School’s Open – Drive With Care
property owner examine their homes and properties and
correct any deficiency they see.
If you’re unsure about a condition, please Contact Us and we’ll
try to help.
Board Advisory Committee
The Board Advisory Committee (BAC) was created by the
original HOA Board of Directors (BOD). The BAC, which is
made up of community home owners, helps the BOD run
the Association. The BAC advises the BOD on the will of the
community. BAC members are elected by the community
for two-year terms at the annual meeting of the Association.
Eric Burch – President, Declarant K. Hovnanian – LSCA
Katerinea Erb – FirstService Residential Association
Manager
See Next Page for Current BAC Members
2
Walking Trails
Current BAC Members for 2015
August 5, 2015 – Speaking of walking in Leeland Station, our
Jim Loftus – Chair, Belle Air Village
trails are open to all residents and recently posted as such.
Phil Herbert – Vice Chair, Leeland Station (West)
As we mentioned on page 2 in “Association Updates” the trails
Sandi Hamill – Activities Liasion. Belle Air Village
will be undergoing repairs to correct aging issues resulting in
Gail Carlson – Modifications Liasion, Leeland Station (East)
cracks and settling. Here’s a map of our trails that you can
click to enlarge and print.
Brian Duy – Member at Large, Leeland Station (West)
David Pitts – Member at Large, Belle Air Village
Member Vacancy (1)
You can contact the BAC at CONTACT US on the website.
Sheriff’s Corner
Recent operational status of the new traffic signal at Leeland
Road and Primmer House Road prompted a quick completion
of the walking trail to attach pedestrian access to the property.
The Sheriff’s Office has advised us larcenies from autos are
again on the rise in the areas surrounding Leeland Station, and
we’ve been fortunate so far. While focus patrols are on the
increase, they urge us to call the Sheriff at "911" if you think a
crime is occurring, about to occur, or you see or hear someone
or something you don't recognize near your home or a
neighbor's home. Please, don’t use social media to report a
problem. You can reach the Sheriff at (540) 658-4400 for nonemergencies. First Sergeant Darrell English of the Sheriff’s
Crime Prevetion Unit said "it doesn't matter which number you
call - what's important is that you just call."
The Sheriff's Office left us with this guidance to help us all be
Photo Courtesy Sue Ann Oltman
more vigilant.
See next Page for Sheriff’s Corner
3
August 1, 2015 – The Leeland Express has completed its 2015
Rappahannock Swim League Season. They rounded out a good
placing with a 4 win 3 loss record. Given they compete in the What is Suspicous?
toughest Battlefield Division of the RSL, the The swim team
Stafford County Sheriff Crime Prevention
fininshed 3rd in the season finals held at Curtis Park on August
SIDEWALKS and DRIVEWAY
APRONS
1st.
The Express will have both a competitive team and
Again we would like to remind resident’s that not only is it illegal
developmental programs for little swimmers. The Leeland
to obstruct a sidewalk, it’s downright un-neighborly. Complaints
Station Swim Team (LSST) is dedicated to the emotional and
have been made about resident’s parking in driveways to a point
physical growth of its swimmers and to the morale of the
the overflow obstructs the sidewalk.
community in which they live.
The goal of the coaches,
parents, and all involved in the LSST is to make swimming a fun
experience. To foster, in both parents and swimmers alike, the
benefits of hard work and sacrifice, the traits of good
sportsmanship, the value of self-discipline, the seeds and fruits
of leadership, the exhilaration of competition, and the joy of
community spirit.
Visit www.LeelandExpress.com for more
Examples of obstructed sidewalks – Not Leeland Station resident’s cars
information.
In one complaint, a woman walking a wheelchair-bound family
The LSCA and BAC would like to thank the parents and
member had to turn around and walk back to an accessible
community volunteers that make this worthwhile program a
point and walk in the street to get around an obstructing car. In
success. To the swimmers, thanks and congratulations on all
another instance a legally blind pedestrian was forced into the
of your hard work and efforts.
street to get around the obstruction, and was nearly struck when he
emerged from behind a legally park car on the street. Children a r e
2015 Swim Team Schedule - FINAL
Away Meet vs. Fawn Lake
Home Meet vs. Aquia Harbor
Home Meet vs. Massad YMCA
Away Meet vs. Hampton Oaks
Home Meet vs. Regency Park
Away Meet vs. Curtis Park
Battlefield Division Championships
Jun 17, 2015
Jun 24, 2015
Jul 1, 2015
Jul 8, 2015
Jul 15, 2015
Jul 20, 2015
Aug 1, 2015
walking to school in the morning and to bus stops. Let’s face it,
some of them are not the best decision makers and often forget
(W)
(W)
(W)
(W)
(L)
(L*)
3rd Pl
the basic rules of entering traffic lanes. They will surely dart
around these obstructions and can create a hazard quicker than
most drivers can react.
While we realize it’s your driveway, that portion of it is the
“right-of-way,” and belongs to the state. So you can be ticket for
obstructing it.
*Currently under protest for an RSL rule violation
Please be courteous to your neighbors and our
community guests. Park your car either completely in your driveway
or on the street. Thanks from all of the walkers!
4
7th Annual Pumpkin Chase
Stafford High School didn't open
as scheduled
Leeland Station Activities Committee hosted the Annual Pumpkin
Chase fun run for children of all ages. Originally Scheduled for
October 3, it was postponed due to hurricane Joaquin until Saturday,
October 17th.
The race started at the Belle Air Clubhouse with 3 course options; a 1
mile run (any age), a ½ mile run (6 or under) and a 200m run (3 or
under.) All races started and ended at the clubhouse.
Most runners received a “drawstring backpack” and all received a
medal. There were 42 of our community's youngest members
chasing down Brian Duy who suited up as the pumpkin for the chase.
The LSCA would like to thank Lori Govar who headed up the effort to
arrange this fun event and thanks to the 20 some additional
volunteers who were the catalyst to pull it off.
PETER CIHELKA/THE FREE LANCE–STAR
September 8 – Stafford High School didn’t open on time after yet
another goal for the school’s construction wasn’t met. The school
finally opened September 14th after the general contractor, Hess
Construction, received a temporary occupancy permit from county
building inspectors.
The school district was forced to call for a delay in opening the high
school late in the afternoon Friday, August 28th. As a result, the first
day of school for Stafford High School students was September 14
instead of September 8 like the rest of the school district.
Hess Construction was contracted by the school district to have
substantially completed the building May 31 and is now facing a
$5,000 penalty every day since that date.
The construction schedule has been revised numerous times since
that date and then talks of pushing back school surfaced this past
week. An unidentified Stafford High School teacher said she felt
demoralized.
Deputy County Administrator Keith Dayton said that the inspectors
were most concerned about incomplete work related to occupant
safety.
The sprinkler and alarm system are the highest priority of things that
still need to be completed, Dayton said. He added, “there are
plumbing problems and there were leaks in some areas that were
hard to repair. As many miles of plumbing that’s in that building, it’s
not unusual to have as many leaks as they’re having. It’s a bigger
issue right now because we are running out of time.”
Stafford Schools Assistant Superintendent for Facilities Scott Horan
previously told the School Board that the plumbing in some of the
chemistry labs had to be redone.
The Freelance Star reported in June that school spokesperson Valerie
Cottongim told reporters that mechanical sub-contractor issues
contributed to the delays and that additional plumbing and electrical
sub-contractors had been brought in and the contractor’s
management team was replaced.
5
More Pumpkin Chase
(Stafford HS Delay)
Dayton said other uncompleted tasks include covering electrical
outlets, marking all exits, exit lighting, clearing exit pathways,
installing safety railings and eliminating trip hazards. “It’s not our
role to schedule the work or direct the work. We’re watching the
progress of the work and trying to help them out as much as we
can.”
The school district and Hess will discuss the delays and penalties
once the project is complete.
“There’s been a lot of work still underway in many areas,” Dayton
said. “The contractor is making steady progress finishing up
outstanding work items.”
Many are glad the school is open but concern is still on the minds
of many who are thinking; Just how safe is it in the school?
ANNUAL MEETING
The 2015 Annual Meeting of the Leeland Station Community
Association will be held on Tuesday, November 17, at 7:00
pm, in the multipurpose room at Conway Elementary School,
105 Primmer House Road. Sign-in begins at 6:30 pm.
Homeowners will be receiving notification via US Postal Service
in the upcoming days from our management company, First
Service Residential.
Please mark the date on your calendar and plan to attend. We
will discuss the 2016 budget and provide the community with
updates arising from the monthly LSCA Board Advisory
Pumpkin Chase Results
Committee meetings.
Follow this link to view the Pumpkin Chase results
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